POLICE in West Somerset insist cases of unsolved crime are never “considered closed”, after figures revealed 90% of burglaries in the past two years have gone undetected.

The figures, released following a Freedom of Information request to Avon and Somerset Police, show 207 out of 230 reported burglaries between September 2012 and September 2014 remain undetected.

The 36.2% detection rate for overall crime in West Somerset during that period is better than the 32.6% average for Avon and Somerset and above the national average of around 30%.

Chief Inspector Paul Mogg said: “There is no unsolved crime enquiry which we will consider closed because there may be new evidence found or a new witness who comes forward.

“Many will have been committed by prolific offenders and while we might not have enough evidence at the time for some of their suspected crimes they will have been prosecuted for others.

“There are some crimes, particular-ly in cases of minor criminal damage, for which unfortunately there is a very limited amount of evidence available.

“To help us reduce crime further and bring even more offenders to justice there is much the public can do, such as marking valuable items of property and recording serial numbers of electrical items, and bicycles, as well as taking simple crime prevention measures such as keeping doors and windows locked.

“We are fortunate to be in one of the safest counties in the country; a position which has been achieved while at the same time handling the flooding issues of earlier this year, supporting colleagues in the policing of the NATO summit in September and successfully policing peaceful protests during both the badger cull and the ongoing Hinkley development.”

Bridgwater and West Somerset Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the LibDems, Justine Baker, said: “I am shocked that over 90% of burglaries - which is a big crime in West Somerset - have gone unsolved.

“It again shows to me that rural communities are the ones constantly left out – and that the proposals to change police station provision in Minehead make me even more concerned that although this is saving money, it will have an even bigger impact on the communities of West Somerset than originally thought.”

The figures also revealed that 701 out of 890 (78.76%) reports of theft/handling of stolen goods are yet to be solved – as are nearly 80% of criminal damage cases (448 out of 575).

The detection rates for some crimes in West Somerset are more positive, however.

For example, only five of 180 drug offences recorded in the district between 2012 and 2014 remain unsolved. Ian Liddell-Grainger was unavailble for comment